Pietersen set for Surrey return

Kevin Pietersen told his Twitter followers he will play for Surrey at Headingley

Kevin Pietersen has confirmed his own comeback date, for Surrey against Yorkshire at Headingley this week.

Pietersen, who has not played any cricket since March because of a knee injury, is on a tight schedule to prove his match fitness in time for the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on July 10. Surrey's LV= County Championship fixture against Yorkshire on Friday has long been identified as the mercurial batsman's likely return.

It will give him two matches to demonstrate his form and fitness, and Pietersen made it clear that is currently still the plan.

In a Twitter interaction, he was asked by a follower if he will be playing at Headingley, and replied: "YES I AM!"

Surrey will not officially announce their team until Thursday. But as long as Pietersen does take part, he will then have a second opportunity - for England against Essex at Chelmsford - for match action before the five-Test series against Australia.